Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger by Lori Copeland Read Free Book Online Page B

indifferently over his shoulder as he crossed the street.
Indecision flickered lightly over her face, and then she rushed to catch up with his long, manly gait. "Jason, one more thing." She was nearly out of breath trying to match his pace. You would think he could be enough of a gentleman to at least slow down while she was talking to him, she fumedbut no, if anything, he only increased his strides. Moving faster, she finally caught up with him and, taking hold of his arm, jerked him to an abrupt stop. "Will Marcy be coming with you?" she blurted.
"Who?"
"Marcy. Marcy Evans."
His face had a blank expression. "Why in the hell would Marcy Evans be coming with me?" he asked in amazement.
"Well"Jessica shrugged"I just thought maybe you and she might be married by now . . ."
Jason threw his head back and laughed hilariously.
"Me and Marcy Mercy!"
"Marcy Mercy?" she answered with a frown of confusion on her face. She wasn't quite sure where this conversation had gone wrong.
"Yeah," he grinned, his strong white teeth flashing in his bronze face, "she married Willis Mercy. You surely remember him. His old man owns the bank."
"Marcy Evans married Willis 'Bo Bo' Mercy?" she shrieked in surprise. "My gosh! He's as dull as a brown shoe!"
Jessica could feel her heart lighten considerably. At least Jason hadn't married that redheaded witch!
"Sure, they got married several years ago," he said, beginning to laugh grudgingly now. "They've got two of the homeliest-looking kids you'd ever want to lay eyes on," he finished gleefully.

 

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Jessica fell back against the streetlight, holding her sides in laughter, tears running down her cheeks, at the picture of the elegant Marcy Evans being married to a clod like Willis Mercy.
''Ohhhh," she wailed, "that's priceless. Marcy Mercy! What a name for her to get stuck with!"
Jason's cool reserve finally broke as he found himself laughing as hard as she was, both of them in near hysteria.
Jason finally managed to regain some of his composure and was wiping his eyes on the arm of his blue shirt. His face wore a more tender expression as Jessica's laughter subsided. Soft violet eyes came slowly up to meet lazy green ones as he said in a gentle tone, "If you're asking me if I'm married, the answer is no. I'll be coming alone." He turned back in the direction of Jessica's truck and asked, "Do you think you can get that thing back home with no problems?"
"Oh, sure!" she cried exuberantly. "It isn't hurt at all!"
He shook his head and gave a mirthless laugh. "See you around seven then." He strode off in the direction of the bank.
"Sure, see you at seven," she whispered to herself as her eyes followed his strong, manly form down the street, "and at eight, and nine, and in all my dreams for as long as I can ever remember."

 

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Chapter Three
The old truck sped along home smoothly, as if in sincere repentance for its dastardly deeds of the afternoon.
Jessica made a hurried change into her cooler shorts and halter top, then flew around straightening the living room. It was a comfortable room with an Early American sofa and chair sitting before the large picture window, which flooded the plants Aunt Rainey had hung before it with sunlight. The maple end tables gleamed from the lemon furniture polish Jessica had just applied to them. A large bouquet of flowers, fresh from the yard, held the place of honor in the center of the large round glass coffee table in front of the sofa.
She moved on to the kitchen, feeding Tabby his dinner

 

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and making a light evening meal for herself. The clock on the mantel was just chiming five thirty when Jessica finished her chores. The insurance matter had been taken care of, and fortunately her policy did cover her when driving another vehicle. She had decided to have a quick shower and shampoo her hair before Jason arrived.
''Isn't this silly," she told Tabby. "You'd think I actually had a date with him!" She hastened to remind Tabby that this was just a